Box openable at a side thereof

ABSTRACT

A product package box for an easy taking-out of a product. The box includes multiple of sidewalls that form a body part surrounding the sides of the product, and wings that cover the multiple of sidewalls and upper and lower sides of the body part. Two of the sidewalls are separated from each other, and fastened to each other by tape. On a lower portion of the sidewall of the body, opening-inducing perforations are horizontally extended from a certain point of adjoining ends of the two separated sidewalls and at a predetermined height from the bottom of the box. The wings are integrally formed on the body part, and bent inward the body part to thereby form the upper and lower sides of the body part. By removing the tape that fastens the separated sidewalls, and by tearing along the opening-inducing perforations, one can easily open the box and thus unpack. As a result, since the product can be taken out of the box in a horizontal direction, the unpacking of the product becomes safer and easier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a product package box and, more particularly, to a product package box for an easy taking out of a heavy product.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Generally, a package box for packing electronic appliances such as a TV, is used for protecting the product and making the transportation of the product more convenient. Such a box is generally made of a relatively cheap cardboard of appropriate size, which is cut and trimmed in advance and then built into a box having an appropriate space therein to receive the product.

[0005]FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing a conventional package box being open and closed.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 1A, box 10 includes a body made of four sidewalls 11, 12, 13 and 14 to surround the product, and upper wings 11 a, 12 a, 13 a and 14 a, respectively extending upward from the sidewalls 11, 12, 13 and 14. Also, lower wings (not shown), formed on the bottom end of box 10, are identical in shape to the upper wings.

[0007] For its reasonable price and easy process of assembling it, such conventional boxes 10 are widely used in packing many products.

[0008] The conventional box 10, however, has a potential danger in that it may hurt the back of an unpacking person who attempts to take a relatively heavy product (P) out of the box 10. That is, since the unpacker or user has to bend over the box and lift the product (P) from the box, the user's back is subject to heavy weight. Also, in the event that the products (P) slips out of the grip of the unpacker who is lifting it, the product (P) may break as it falls. The product (P) can also be scratched or the paint of the product (P) can peel off when a user drags the product (P) against the walls or sides of the box 10.

[0009] In an attempt to solve the above-mentioned problems; a box, which is separated at upper and lower sides, has been developed.

[0010] Referring to FIG. 2, the box 100 includes a bottom box 110, a top box 120 and a fastening structure 130. The bottom box 110 supports the bottom of the product (P) and also partially surrounds the lower portion of the box 100. The top box 120 surrounds the side and the top of the product (P). The fastening structure 130 fastens the bottom box 110 with the top box 120. A pair of opposing sidewalls 112 and 114 of the bottom box 110 and a pair of opposing sidewalls 122 and 124 of the top box 120, respectively have fastening holes 110 b and 120 b formed therein and corresponding to one another.

[0011] Accordingly, after fitting the top box 120 in the bottom box 110 on the floor in such a manner that the fastening holes 110 b and 120 b face one another, the fastening structures 130 are fastened into the fastening holes 110 b and 120 b, and thus the box 100 is assembled. FIG. 3 shows the box 100 being assembled. Also, the box 100 is unfolded in a reverse order, so that the product (P) can be taken out of the box 100.

[0012] The above box 100, however, is somewhat difficult to widely apply in the industrial field due to its high price, which is increased by about 20% due to increased work load and the cost of parts. The box 100 accordingly has been used in the high-priced industrial products. There is another problem. That is, since the box 100 is assembled in a manner so that the top box 120 fits into the bottom box 110, there often is a structural error and thus increased defective proportion.

[0013] Meanwhile, appliances of rather significant height and weight, such as refrigerators, are generally housed in a box, which is supported by a footing made of solid material such as wood. When taking a product out of the box, the body part is raised and thus separated from the supporting bottom part. This case, however, has a shortcoming in that the package box cannot be unpacked under a low ceiling since it would be impossible to raise the body box.

[0014] In order to solve the above problem, another box 50 has been developed. As shown in FIG. 4, the box 50 has two lines of perforations 51 a and 51 b formed almost all around the body in parallel to each other and at a predetermined distance from each other. The two lines of perforations 51 a and 51 b form a cut-off portion 52 therebetween. A grabbing part 53 is formed apart from the cut-off portion 52 by a predetermined distance. Accordingly, as a person who unpacks grabs the grabbing part 53 and yanks the cut-off portion 52 along the perforations 51 a and 51 b, a body portion 57 is separated into upper and lower portions 57 a and 57 b. The unpacker removes the separated upper portion 57 a and takes the product out of the box 50 through the open upper portion.

[0015] The above box 50, however, also has a shortcoming in that it cannot be re-used for a packing purpose since the box 50 is separated into parts permanently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned shortcomings and problems of the related art, and accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a product package box that is cheap, that allows a user to take the product out of the box with ease, and that is reusable after the taking-out of the product.

[0017] The above aspects are accomplished by a product package box consistent with the present invention, including a body part having a plurality of sidewalls surrounding a product to be packed, two of the sidewalls being separated from each other, means for fastening adjoining ends of the two separated sidewalls together, and a wing integrally formed on the body part, covering upper and lower sides of the body part. In this case, the body part has opening-inducing perforations extended horizontally from a certain point of the adjoining ends of the two separated sidewalls.

[0018] The opening-inducing perforations are formed across at least one face of the two separated sidewalls.

[0019] The opening-inducing perforations are formed in a lower area of the body part, and are formed higher than a bottom of the box, to correspond to a height of a shock absorbing/lessening member disposed below the product in the body part.

[0020] The opening-inducing perforations are formed of multiple cuts. Each cut includes a first cut formed in a horizontal direction, and a second cut extended from an end of the first cut and at a predetermined angle relative to the first cut. The first cut is approximately 20 mm long and formed at an interval of approximately 40 mm with a next first cut, and the second cut is approximately 35 mm long, and formed at the predetermined angle of approximately 45° relative to the first cut.

[0021] An adhesive tape or a stapler can be used as the fastening means for fastening the adjoining ends of the two separated sidewalls.

[0022] After cutting or separating the fastening means with cutting means like a knife or hands, a person who unpacks the box opens the sidewall having the opening-inducing perforations formed therein by tearing out the sidewall along the opening-inducing perforations with appropriate force. Then the unpacker takes the product out through the open sidewall in a horizontal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above-mentioned aspects and the features of the present invention will be more apparent by describing an illustrative embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024]FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a conventional product package box;

[0025]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a product package box improved on the box of FIG. 1, which is opened at upper and lower sides;

[0026]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 2 being assembled;

[0027]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional product package box;

[0028]FIG. 5 is a development view of a product package box according to the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a line of perforations of FIG. 5;

[0030]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 5 being assembled;

[0031]FIGS. 8A through 8D are perspective views showing the box of FIG. 7 unfolded and the product being taken out of the box; and

[0032]FIG. 9 is a view showing the perforations of the box being torn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0033] From now on, the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034]FIG. 5 is a development view showing the product package box according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The box 200, being unfolded, includes a body portion 210 and a wing portion 210 a, respectively defined by horizontal (H) and vertical (V) folding lines indicated by the dotted lines.

[0035] The body portion 210 includes four sidewalls, i.e., first, second, third and fourth sidewalls 211, 212, 213 and 214.

[0036] The wing portion 210 a includes upper and lower wings 211 a-1, 211 a-2; 212 a-1, 212 a-2; 213 a-1, 213 a-2; and 214 a-1, 214 a-2 formed on the upper and lower ends of the four sidewalls 211, 212, 213 and 214, respectively. The wings are formed such that the neighboring wings are separated from each other at a predetermined distance.

[0037] In the lower portion of the front (first) sidewall 211 of the body portion 210, a line of opening-inducing perforations I is formed.

[0038] The sidewalls 211, 212, 213 and 214 are folded along the vertical folding lines V, to thereby form a body of the box 200 shown in FIG. 7. The opening-inducing perforations I are formed on the front sidewall 211 such that a user can tear out the front sidewall 211 very easily. The lower wings 211 a-2, 212 a-2, 213 a-2 and 214 a-2 are bent at the horizontal folding lines H formed between the sidewalls 211, 212, 213 and 214 and the lower wings 211 a-2, 212 a-2, 213 a-2 and 214 a-2, to thereby form a bottom surface (not shown) of the box 200 of FIG. 7. The upper wings 211 a-1, 212 a-1, 213 a-1 and 214 a-1 are bent at the horizontal folding lines H formed between the sidewalls 211, 212, 213 and 214 and the upper wings 211 a-1, 212 a-1, 213 a-1 and 214 a-1, to thereby form the upper wall of the box 200 of FIG. 7.

[0039] The opening-inducing perforations I comprise a plurality of cuts 250 that are made at a predetermined interval from one another. The opening-inducing perforations I are formed apart from the lower end of the front sidewall 211 in parallel to the horizontal folding lines H. The opening-inducing perforations I are formed away from the bottom of the box 200, due to the height of a product's protective cushion (e.g. Styrofoam reinforcement) and possible impact that would occur when the lower wings of the front sidewalls 211 are folded. Preferably, but not necessarily, the opening-inducing perforations I are more than 50 mm in height. In this illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, the opening-inducing perforations I are 80 mm up away from the bottom.

[0040]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a part E of the opening-inducing perforations I formed on the front sidewall 211 of FIG. 5.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 6, the cuts 250 include first cuts 251 formed at a predetermined interval from one another and in parallel to the horizontal folding lines H, and second cuts 252 extended from ends 250 a of the first cuts 251.

[0042] Both the first cuts 251 and the second cuts 252 have a uniform length. Also, gaps between the first cuts 251 and between the second cuts 252 are uniform. More specifically, the first cuts 251 are, for example, 20 mm in length, respectively, and formed at the interval of 40 mm. The second cuts 252 are, for example, 35 mm in length, respectively, at a uniform angle of 45° relative to the neighboring first cuts 251. The angles and lengths of the first and second cuts 251 and 252 determine the direction and length of the torn line between an end 250 b of certain first cut 251 and the neighboring second cut 262 when the user tears along the opening-inducing perforations I. For example, supposing that the physical force is exerted by the user at the angle of 45° in order to open the front sidewall 211, the torn line runs from the end 250 b of the first cut 251 to the neighboring second cut by 28 mm, due to the lengths of the first and the second cuts 251 and 252.

[0043] Next, by aligning the front and the right sidewalls 211 and 214 with each other and then connecting a joint therebetween with a tape T2, the product package box is prepared.

[0044]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the box assembled from the development view of FIG. 5.

[0045] The box 200 includes a body portion 210, a tape T2 and a wing portion 210 a. The body portion 210 includes four sidewalls 211, 212, 213 and 214 for surrounding a product to be packed.

[0046] The front and right sidewalls 211 and 214 are aligned to each other, and a joint portion therebetween is connected by a fastening means such as a tape T2. The wings 210 a are integrally formed on the body portion 210, and the wings 21 la-i and 213 a-1, for covering the top of the body portion 210, are in an unfolded state. The lower wings 210 a-2 are already in a folded state, thereby forming the bottom of the box 200. On the lower portion of the front sidewall 211 of the box 200, opening-inducing perforations I are extended from the joint between the sidewalls 211 and 214 in a horizontal direction and corresponding to the horizontal length of the box 200.

[0047] The opening-inducing perforations I can be formed all around the body portion, or alternatively, it can be formed in the front and the right sidewalls 211 and 214 only. Also, instead of the tape T2, alternative fastening means can be used, such as a fastening area (not shown) that is extended from the right side of the front sidewall 211 to meet the sidewalls 211 and 214. More specifically, after overlapping a certain part of the joint portion with the right sidewall 214 by bending the certain part at a folding line (not shown), the user fastens the overlapping area with appropriate fastening means such as a stapler, or the like. The present invention includes a box having a fastening area as the one described above, and also a box in which two separated sidewalls are fastened with each other by appropriate fastening means.

[0048] The process of unfolding the box and taking the product out of the box will be described below in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 8A through 8D.

[0049]FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the box of FIG. 7 holding the product therein.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 8A, the product is packed in the closed box 200. The opening-inducing perforations I are formed in the front sidewall 211 of the box 200, and the joint between the upper wings 211 a-1 and 213 a-1 and the joint between the front and right sidewalls 211 and 214 are sealed by the tapes T1 and T2, respectively.

[0051] A person who unpacks the box 200 first removes the tapes T1 and T2 by snatching or cutting. Then he unfolds the wings 211 a-1 through 214 a-1 upward. FIG. 8B shows the box with its upper wings stretched. Next, the unpacker removes the tape T2 from the joint between the front and the right sidewalls 211 and 214. Accordingly, the front sidewall 211 is separated from the right sidewall 214 as shown in FIG. 8C, and the unpacker grabs the lower portion of the front sidewall 211 at the gap between the front and the right sidewalls 211 and 214, and pulls the front sidewall 211 leftward along the opening-inducing cutting line I, thereby opening the front portion of the box 200. FIG. 8D shows the box in which the front sidewall 211 is torn off along the opening-inducing perforations I. After that, the unpacker lifts the product a little bit and pulls the product towards him.

[0052]FIG. 9 is a view showing the opening-inducing perforations I being torn apart in enlargement.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 9, in order to prevent the deviation of the torn line to the neighboring second cut 262 from the end 250 b of the first cut 251 by an excessive force of the unpacker, the second cuts 262 are extended for an extra distance of, for example, 6.7 mm.

[0054] When opening the box, most of the people pull the front sidewall out while usually lowering their bodies a little bit down. But sometimes, there are those who open the box in a standing posture, and for this case, the maximum force is set at the angle of 45° by the measures shown in FIG. 6, in a direction that is indicated by the arrow A of FIG. 9.

[0055] The table below shows reliability test data obtained after testing the product's package box according to the present invention. TABLE 1 Tape Side- Maintenance Heat- Cold- Pressure- attaching Storage damper Items Cycle resistance resistance resistance force Level compression Conditions −30° C.˜−60° C. 60° C., −10° C., 29 A7 90° C. 4 Inspection 72 hrs 16 hrs 16 hrs standard- 90 & RH levels at the size box Time: 5 min. of factory Weight: 2 kg.f storage Criteria No peeling-off of the Not less Strong No popping tape/deformation at the opening- than enough to out/distortion of the inducing perforations 609 kg.f hold the box weight Results OK OK OK 650 kg.f OK OK OK

[0056] As shown, the tested object, i.e., the box with the opening-inducing perforations I meets the criteria set forth for determining the acceptability of a box, and thus, a box is acceptable.

[0057] Meanwhile, the opening-inducing perforations I can also be formed in the upper portion of the box, especially when the product is tall and heavy. When unpacking the box having the opening-inducing perforations I formed in the upper portion, the unpacker first tears out the front sidewall of the box along the upper opening-inducing perforations I and then removes the rest of the box backward, horizontally. Accordingly, regardless of the height of the ceiling, the product can be easily taken out of the box. According to the present invention, the box can be re-used by simply taping the sidewalls 211 and 214 that were separated along the opening-inducing perforations I.

[0058] With the product package box according to the present invention, the product is taken out of the box in a horizontal direction. The unpacker does no t have to bend over the box in order to lift the heavy product, and thus, there is no risk of injuring one's back, or the like. Also, it is impossible for the product to fall and slid from the grab of the unpacker.

[0059] Also, by taping the separated area, the box can be restored to its original shape, and thus it can be re-used.

[0060] Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described illustrative embodiment, but various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A packaging container, comprising: a plurality of sidewalls together forming a body of said packaging container, at least one of said plurality of sidewalls having a vertical edge separated from an adjacent one of said plurality of sidewalls; and a line of perforations extending horizontally from a starting point disposed on said vertical edge.
 2. The packaging container of claim 1, further comprising: attaching means for temporarily holding together said at least one of said plurality of sidewalls and said adjacent one of said plurality of sidewalls.
 3. The packaging container of claim 1, wherein: said line of perforations extends horizontally from said starting point across a width of said at least one of said plurality of sidewalls.
 4. The packaging container of claim 3, wherein said line of perforations is formed in a lower area of said body.
 5. The packaging container of claim 4, wherein said line of perforations is formed higher than a bottom of said body, to correspond to a height of a shock absorbing/lessening member disposed below a product accommodated in said body.
 6. The packaging container of claim 1, wherein said line of perforations is formed of a plurality of cuts.
 7. The packaging container of claim 6, wherein each of said cuts comprises: a first cut formed in a horizontal direction; and a second cut extended from an end of said first cut and at a predetermined angle relative to said first cut.
 8. The packaging container of claim 7, wherein said first cut is approximately 20 mm long and formed at an interval of approximately 40 mm with a next first cut, and said second cut is approximately 35 mm long, and formed at said predetermined angle of approximately 45° relative to said first cut.
 9. The packaging container of claim 2, wherein said attaching means is an adhesive tape that fastens adjoining edges of said at least one of said plurality of sidewalls and said adjacent one of said plurality of sidewalls.
 10. A packaging container, comprising: a plurality of sidewalls together forming a body of said packaging container; and a line of perforations formed on at least one of said plurality of sidewalls, said line of perforations allowing said at least one of said plurality of sidewalls to be torn along said line of perforations into no more than two parts.
 11. The packaging container of claim 10, wherein said line of perforations extends horizontally.
 12. The packaging container of claim 11, wherein said line of perforations is formed in a lower area of said body.
 13. The packaging container of claim 12, wherein said line of perforations is formed higher than a bottom of said body, to correspond to a height of a shock absorbing/lessening member disposed below a product accommodated in said body.
 14. The packaging container of claim 10, wherein said line of perforations is formed of a plurality of cuts.
 15. The packaging container of claim 14, wherein each of said cuts comprises: a first cut formed in a horizontal direction; and a second cut extended from an end of said first cut and at a predetermined angle relative to said first cut.
 16. The packaging container of claim 15, wherein said first cut is approximately 20 mm long and formed at an interval of approximately 40 mm with a next first cut, and said second cut is approximately 35 mm long, and formed at said predetermined angle of approximately 45° relative to said first cut.
 17. A sheet material foldable into a packing container, comprising: a plurality of edges; and a plurality of fold lines along which said sheet material is configured to be folded to form a plurality of sidewalls, at least one of said plurality of sidewalls having a line of perforations extending horizontally from at least one of said plurality of edges.
 18. The sheet material of claim 17, wherein said line of perforations is formed of a plurality of cuts.
 19. The sheet material of claim 18, wherein each of said cuts comprises: a first cut formed in a horizontal direction; and a second cut extended from an end of said first cut and at a predetermined angle relative to said first cut.
 20. The sheet material of claim 19, wherein said first cut is approximately 20 mm long and formed at an interval approximately of 40 mm with a next first cut, and said second cut is approximately 35 mm long, and formed at said predetermined angle approximately of 45° relative to said first cut. 